Pharma Specialist ImpactRx Buys AlphaDetail

In the US, ImpactRx has acquired San Mateo, California-based pharma and biotech competitor AlphaDetail. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

AlphaDetail is a full-service primary market research firm, with a particular focus on large quant studies for the global healthcare community. For the year 2010, revenues increased 30% to more than $18.5m.

ImpactRX - which is owned by Symphony Technology Group (STG), the parent company of retail intelligence giant SymphonyIRI - specializes in measuring the impact of promotion on physicians' attitudes and prescribing behavior. Following the acquisition, AlphaDetail will be integrated across ImpactRx's operations, but will maintain its name and branding, and will operate as the custom market research unit of the company.

AlphaDetail's existing management team will continue to lead the unit, and CEO Rishi Varma will also become EVP, Custom Market Research of ImpactRx, reporting to President and CEO, Greg Ellis.

Ellis says the integration of AlphaDetails' skills in conducting research with ImpactRx's data assets and capabilities will improve the servicing of clients' product forecasting needs.

Varma comments: 'We're eager to begin integrating this focus and our skill set with ImpactRx's unique research model and world-class data and analytical assets to deliver even more value to our combined customer base.'

Web sites: www.impactrx.com , www.symphonytg.com and www.alphadetail.com .